Container and closure with substance storage means

Abstract

An assembly including a container having a first end and an opposing second end. The assembly also includes a housing for removably receiving a cartridge of the type including a substance storage compartment for storing a substance therein. The housing is connectable to the second end of the container. When connected to the container, the housing is movable relative to the container. A rupturing device is provided for rupturing the storage compartment upon relative movement between the housing and container, so as to combine any storage compartment contents with any container contents. The rupturing device is mounted within the container. A container opening is provided in the first end of the container; and a closure provided for sealing the container opening. The closure is movable between a closed position, and an open position for providing access to the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of using an assembly including:
 removably inserting a cartridge into a housing of the assembly, the cartridge of the type having a storage compartment containing first contents, wherein the assembly comprises:
 a container having a first end and an opposing second end; 
 the housing for removably receiving the cartridge; 
 the housing configured to connect to the second end of the container and, when connected to the second end of the container, a portion of the housing configured to slide relative to the container in a linear direction toward the first end of the container; 
 a rupturing device mounted within and stationary relative to the container, the rupturing device configured to rupture and enter the substance storage compartment upon the housing sliding relative to the rupturing device in the linear direction toward the first end of the container, wherein the housing slides relative to the rupturing device with respect to the linear direction only, wherein rupturing the substance storage compartment combines any storage compartment contents with any container contents; 
 a container opening provided in the first end of the container; and 
 a closure provided for sealing the container opening, the closure configured to move between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the container; 
 
 connecting the housing to the second end of the container of the assembly; 
 adding second contents to the container through the container opening provided in the first end of the container; 
 sealing the container opening with the closure; 
 moving the housing relative to the container in the linear direction toward the first end of the container, such that the rupturing device provided within and stationary relative to the container ruptures the storage compartment and enters the storage compartment upon the housing moving in the linear direction toward the first end of the container, so as to combine the first contents with the second contents; 
 removing the closure from the container opening; and 
 consuming the combined first and second contents through the container opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disconnecting the housing from the container; 
 removing the cartridge from the housing; and 
 inserting a replacement cartridge into the housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising replenishing the second contents. 
     
     
       4. A method for using an assembly including a container having a first end and an opposing second end, the method comprising:
 removably inserting a cartridge including a substance storage compartment for storing a substance therein into a housing of the container connected to the second end of the container, the assembly comprises:
 the container having the first end and the second end opposing the first end; 
 the housing for removably receiving the cartridge; 
 the housing configured to connect to the second end of the container and, when connected to the second end of the container, a portion of the housing is configured to slide relative to the container in a linear direction toward the first end of the container; 
 a rupturing device mounted within and stationary relative to the container, the rupturing device configured to rupture and enter the substance storage compartment upon the housing sliding relative to the rupturing device in the linear direction toward the first end of the container, wherein the housing slides relative to the rupturing device with respect to the linear direction only, wherein rupturing the substance storage compartment combines any storage compartment contents with any container contents; 
 a container opening provided in the first end of the container; and 
 a closure provided for sealing the container opening, the closure configured to move between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the container; 
 
 sliding the housing in the linear direction toward the first end of the container and relative to the rupturing device mounted within and stationary relative to the container; 
 rupturing the substance storage compartment by the rupturing device such that the rupturing device enters the storage compartment as a result of sliding the housing in the linear direction toward the first end of the container; and 
 combining any storage compartment contents with any container contents subsequent to rupturing the substance storage compartment.